Advice...Snake in the Grass

Do not sweat it. Guys like that are a dime a dozen. He is a quitter and your admin will recognize that.

I have been there and done that. Had a guy once tell the parents of a kid who broke his leg that I was at fault because I called the play he broke his leg on. (It was a nice trap which went abotu 15 yards if I recall.)

Anyway if you have a snake you need to make sure the admin know about it and will back you. Then you need to talk directly to the guy. Lay it out for him. Where does you AD stand?

I would confront him head on. May want to see what the AD/Principal thinks about this behavior. If he shrugs his shoulders, then send him a memo, voicing your concerns again and spell out the action you are going to take and ask if you have his support to confront the individual.

Personally I say ignore it- what is gained by making this a big deal? You are either secure in your job or you are not and this guy popping off should not change that and if he can then it's time to move on anyway.

For the most part, all you can really do is ignore him and go about your business. I do suggest going to the principal privately. Bring this up tactfully and just honestly explain what happened without being vindictive to him about it. You were in the right here and a classless jerk like this is really only hurting himself.

If the administration is at all competent, they'll see right through him. Realistically, they're probably only putting up with him because he just won't leave them alone--why else would they even bother thinking a guy who just got fired for HOLDING A GRUDGE AGAINST A PLAYER should be named their new HC? The fact that the other coaches and kids, especially the ones at the positions he coached, don't mind seeing him go speaks volumes.

The only things that I think could begin to give you any real reason to worry are:

1. What were your records the last 2 years?

2. Besides this bum, do you feel like you have any REAL reason to feel your job is in jeopardy?

3. Who's been there longer, you or him?

4. Do you know for a fact if he had a close relationship to anyone with pull PRIOR to him quitting? If this all just started and he never bragged about his "connections" before, he probably has none now. Even if he did brag, did you ever see any evidence that he did?

5. Has anyone who now has authority over you tried to tell you how to run your program before?

Ask yourself these questions and go from there. Don't let anyone else see it bothering you. Project confidence in yourself and your decision. If you go on the offensive against him and start slinging mud back, it'll only make you look worse.

Good luck coach. You did the right thing. Remember that.

Thanks for the advice so far. Coachinghopeful...that really helps. I'll PM you later today.

And he wasn't fired...he quit. At the end of athletics he put on his jacket and walked to the principal's office and resigned ALL his coaching duties. He never said a word to me on his way out.

Yeah, one part of me is not worried because I know the kids won't play for him, and the other assistants will walk. The other part of me is paranoid just like anyone else. I've never had this happen, so I was not sure how to go about it. The rest of us have done the right thing so far, and that's hit off-season hard with the kids, and not said a word.

The basketball coach approached me the other day wondering what the deal was. He knew he had quit. Didn't like that. Then told me he overheard him talking to a kid in the hallway about playing football the next year.